Should preserved railways 1940s events go ahead this year?

[35B]

That is your opinion of course, I don't think it's frivolous at all, it is after all a historical renactment, if you don't remember your history you will forget your future.

We came very close to losing the war several times, retreat from Dunkirk, Battle of Britain, Atlantic Convoy... We pulled through, it is right we should remember our victories, they are hard won, it is worrying that young people today don't know anything about it or have some vague idea, this can be blamed on the education system that places more empathisis on trendy subject with history replaced with left wing propaganda.

Such events helps to educate and bring history to life.

I've served and wore the uniform, I still visit such events, regimental museums, Normandy and Belgium, I take my neice and nephew to them to educate them as they are the future custodian of this country long after we have passed on.

I regard re-enactment events as a reason to avoid the place where they are being held, and have never found assemblages of re-enactors where I've encountered them anything other than cringe making. Some (for example, the Napoleonic Wars period re-enactment that a university tutor worked with) are historically credible, others far less so. And any such event using BR era Mk1s, hauled by BR liveried locomotives, visiting stations decorated in pre-Grouping colours, is by definition not in the credible corner.

The general tenor of railway events, based on the publicity, and post-event reports where I'm a member, is a ghastly concatenation of Allo Allo and mawkish remembrance, presenting a wholly ahistorical view of war and wartime life. The likes of Goering or the SS weren't to be joked about, but were a deadly threat to those living under their rule (even in Germany) - the idea of a recreation of such rule as a jolly day out is ghastly beyond belief.

I have no issue with remembering victories or defeats, and paying proper attention to the history. Near me, Belton House did excellent work to remember the Machine Gun Corps (it was home to their training camp in WWI), and a little further, there is the IBCC outside Lincoln. They do bring history to life, not just a sentimentalised and false version of it.

Whether or not GWSR were right to pull their event because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I don't know. But I sincerely hope it marks the beginning of the end of these ghastly, mawkish pieces of unhistorical kitsch.

 

[AlterEgo]

When you put it like that, it certainly doesn't sound complimentry at all, certainly a condescending phrase by the sound of it.

What would be condescending is explaining to you what a dog whistle is when you are on an internet-enabled device with access to Google.

If you bothered to read what I posted you’d find it rather supports this view of yours:

I don't think any 1940s event should be cancelled, you can't really conflate both events, otherwise you would be cancelling for every conflict, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Ireland, Somalia etc where do you draw the line ?

Some people are treating the war in Ukraine as “special” because it involves white people and has the aesthetic (to them) of WWII. There has been a lot of dog whistling to the effect of “I can’t believe this is happening in a ‘civilised country’” when we’ve turned a blind eye to wars the world over when it’s been convenient for us.

 

[Vespa]

I regard re-enactment events as a reason to avoid the place where they are being held, and have never found assemblages of re-enactors where I've encountered them anything other than cringe making. Some (for example, the Napoleonic Wars period re-enactment that a university tutor worked with) are historically credible, others far less so. And any such event using BR era Mk1s, hauled by BR liveried locomotives, visiting stations decorated in pre-Grouping colours, is by definition not in the credible corner.

The general tenor of railway events, based on the publicity, and post-event reports where I'm a member, is a ghastly concatenation of Allo Allo and mawkish remembrance, presenting a wholly ahistorical view of war and wartime life. The likes of Goering or the SS weren't to be joked about, but were a deadly threat to those living under their rule (even in Germany) - the idea of a recreation of such rule as a jolly day out is ghastly beyond belief.

I have no issue with remembering victories or defeats, and paying proper attention to the history. Near me, Belton House did excellent work to remember the Machine Gun Corps (it was home to their training camp in WWI), and a little further, there is the IBCC outside Lincoln. They do bring history to life, not just a sentimentalised and false version of it.

Whether or not GWSR were right to pull their event because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I don't know. But I sincerely hope it marks the beginning of the end of these ghastly, mawkish pieces of unhistorical kitsch.

On the other hand, because we have come so close to defeat and eventually came through, because of that we take ownership of such event and mark the fact we survived and our humour in the face of hostility.

Many WW2 programs on BBC and cinemas made fun of the Germans.

 

[35B]

On the other hand, because we have come so close to defeat and eventually came through, because of that we take ownership of such event and mark the fact we survived and our humour in the face of hostility.

Many WW2 programs on BBC and cinemas made fun of the Germans.

Indeed they did. A luxury made possible, I suggest, by the fact that, with the limited exception of those who actually fought them, we didn’t have to face their evil front on.

If people enjoy these events, they’ve every right to organise and attend them - in the same way that I avoid them like the plague. But what does get my goat is when they’re described as “educational” or “accurate”; even where the re-enactors are accurate, the events themselves are anything but.

 

[bleeder4]

The problem at the moment is that people turn on their TVs, radios or smartphones and are automatically bombarded with news reports about death and destruction, civilian buildings being bombed, thousands dying, millions of refugees. Because this is right on the doorstep of Europe it's all over the news. Given that these relentless media reports are shocking many people who, up until now, had not been exposed to news reports about warfare on this scale, those people are much less likely to want to go to an event which looks back on other wars and conflicts. They'll want a break from all that instead. I know people at work who are following the Ukraine coverage throughout the day and getting shocked by it, yet are blithely ignorant to all the other countless conflicts of the last decade, simply because those countries are on the other side of the world and so weren't reported so much by our media.

 

[Spamcan81]

I regard re-enactment events as a reason to avoid the place where they are being held, and have never found assemblages of re-enactors where I've encountered them anything other than cringe making. Some (for example, the Napoleonic Wars period re-enactment that a university tutor worked with) are historically credible, others far less so. And any such event using BR era Mk1s, hauled by BR liveried locomotives, visiting stations decorated in pre-Grouping colours, is by definition not in the credible corner.

The general tenor of railway events, based on the publicity, and post-event reports where I'm a member, is a ghastly concatenation of Allo Allo and mawkish remembrance, presenting a wholly ahistorical view of war and wartime life. The likes of Goering or the SS weren't to be joked about, but were a deadly threat to those living under their rule (even in Germany) - the idea of a recreation of such rule as a jolly day out is ghastly beyond belief.

I have no issue with remembering victories or defeats, and paying proper attention to the history. Near me, Belton House did excellent work to remember the Machine Gun Corps (it was home to their training camp in WWI), and a little further, there is the IBCC outside Lincoln. They do bring history to life, not just a sentimentalised and false version of it.

Whether or not GWSR were right to pull their event because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I don't know. But I sincerely hope it marks the beginning of the end of these ghastly, mawkish pieces of unhistorical kitsch.

Your choice not to attend but I disagree with you regarding holding these events. I would draw the line about allowing Nazi re-enactors though.

 

[Peter Sarf]

A day out at a preserved railway does that?

Re-enactment days are a very English way of dressing up and remembering our successes, they are not in any way a semblance of living under wartime conditions.

The organisers rightly believe the event is completely frivolous in light of actual war going on elsewhere. It’s up to them if they want to cancel it.

If it raises peoples curiosity and reminds them of how wars can come close to home then it has achieved something.

Poland is next door to Ukraine and it was when Germany went into Poland that we then got involved in World War Two. Now the country expanding into Ukraine is a major player called Russia.

If you don't want to be "insensitive" about holding a war related event because a war is on you'd never hold any of these events at all. There is always a war on somewhere, its not brown people being bombed this time but it doesn't make it any different. Or shouldn't anyway.

I agree.

Hold the event and send the profits to Ukraine. Allow the public to decide whether to support the event or not

Excellent and positive idea.

What would be condescending is explaining to you what a dog whistle is when you are on an internet-enabled device with access to Google.

If you bothered to read what I posted you’d find it rather supports this view of yours:

Some people are treating the war in Ukraine as “special” because it involves white people and has the aesthetic (to them) of WWII. There has been a lot of dog whistling to the effect of “I can’t believe this is happening in a ‘civilised country’” when we’ve turned a blind eye to wars the world over when it’s been convenient for us.

Do not forget. Not everyone has the same abilities or confidence with the internet.

What is different is that this is an unprovoked attack by a major military player on a harmless neighbour. Rather like how WW2 started.

On the other hand, because we have come so close to defeat and eventually came through, because of that we take ownership of such event and mark the fact we survived and our humour in the face of hostility.

Many WW2 programs on BBC and cinemas made fun of the Germans.

True. Anything that provokes interest in history leads to lessons being learnt.

 

[nanstallon]

I don't personally go to these events, because I feel that they trivialise and romanticise the horrors of actual war. But I wouldn't take it upon myself to deny others the choice. It is up to the particular railway to make its own decision whether to hold the event, and it is up to the individual to decide whether to attend. Freedom of choice was what our fathers or grandfathers fought for.

I wouldn't boycott a railway either for cancelling the event, or for holding it.

 

[XAM2175]

There's something about seeing people getting all worked up about a heritage railway having an opinion different to theirs that reminds of the word "snowflake".

I sincerely hope the same wokishness won’t pervade the events planned to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War (admittedly not railway related) which are also due to take place this year.

What "wokishness", exactly? I can't see how even the most fervent stampers-out of fun times can threaten the soft of respectful commemorations I'd understood to be planned for the anniversary.

 

[D6968]

They are good fun. The only one I have attended and been to twice was the "Isle of Man - Island at War" weekend.

It even paid homage to Dad's Army with the U-Boat captain and escort.

This is one of the photos I took: https://www.smugmug.com/app/organiz...-Tramways/Isle-of-Man-Steam-Railway/i-737XFH9

Also I was in a compartment with a 1940s dressed lady who was arrested at Santon station by the Home Guard for being a spy.

It was all good fun!

Yes I know people die in war and there are countless tragedies but until recent years and the "woke" brigade took over the British Blitz Humour continued - but now "Blitz Humour" seems to be frowned on.

I also understand that Crich Tramway Museum also used to run a "Red October Weekend" in which Eastern Bloc trams featured as well as reenactors and eastern European vehicles.

Now I never got to attend these weekends and when I discovered them from online photo postings I also discovered that the Tramway Museum Society had decided not to hold any more.

My political views are rather right of centre and in the real world I see Communism / Socialism as a major evil. But to be honest I wasn't offended by the idea of these weekends and being very interested in history would have likeed to attend them.

I also recall reading that East Lancs Railway received some slating in the mainstream media a few years ago because some 1940s re-enactors turned up dressed as SS Officers and someone as Hermann Goering.

Why?

This sort of thing never used to offend - why does it do so now?

I am sure we will get to the stage if we are not careful of banning Roman and Norman enactments.

It is all very sad and makes me very reactionary to those who wish to deprive of recreating our history.

I also doubt comedies such as "Dad's Army" and "Allo Allo" would ever be made again.

Hence I am probably perceived as being right-wing extremist when in reality I was just a normal Tory until a couple of years ago and wokeism took hold.

So in as another thread as mentioned the question, about a 1980’s themed railway I’ll ask how comfortable would you be attending that 1980’s railway with minors and the likes of Jimmy Saville posters promoting ‘This is the age of the train’ and music from the likes of Gary Glitter?
Would you say that this is a good idea? Or as you put it is this just being ‘woke’?

 

[Vespa]

So in as another thread as mentioned the question, about a 1980’s themed railway I’ll ask how comfortable would you be attending that 1980’s railway with minors and the likes of Jimmy Saville posters promoting ‘This is the age of the train’ and music from the likes of Gary Glitter?
Would you say that this is a good idea? Or as you put it is this just being ‘woke’?

Comparing Jimmy Seville and military events, is comparing apples and oranges.

Both are two completely different things and you cannot conflate one with the other.

 

[mike57]

History is important, attempts to try and rewrite, or in the case of the OPs suggestion suppress History are bad.

They should go ahead, and ideally there should be information on hand to explain the historical context. People can then take away the learning and apply it to the current situation. Those affected by sanctions against Russia for example by rising gas and fuel prices, can understand why we are taking sanctions, and it will allow them to better understand the situation Ukraine finds itself in.

For some people it will do more good than news broadcasts and all the other media.

Understanding history is the only way we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past

 

[Trainfan344]

To all saying that this is no different to Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan. It's nothing to do with skin colour, especially the incredibly racist "Brown People" term. Until 9 days ago, Ukraine was a modern independent country, it was one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Unlike other conflicts in the past this is s completely different scale. Over 1 million refuges have fled Ukraine, to give some context there were only 340,000 refuges from Nazi Germany.

There's a massive sense of irony if you seriously stop supporting a preserved railway because you don't agree with there decisions then accuse them of being too woke. I wonder if any of the so called "Enthusiasts" who threaten to boycott the lines or companies have ever helped the preservation movement by volunteering or if they sit at home in an armchair complaining about everything.

I'm still not sure where I sit on this topic, but it's important for people to understand both sides of the debate.

 

[John Luxton]

So in as another thread as mentioned the question, about a 1980’s themed railway I’ll ask how comfortable would you be attending that 1980’s railway with minors and the likes of Jimmy Saville posters promoting ‘This is the age of the train’ and music from the likes of Gary Glitter?
Would you say that this is a good idea? Or as you put it is this just being ‘woke’?

Actually I would have no problem with it because it would allow people to see just how easily people were taken in by these two disreputable people.

We need to learn from history even if the history is painful for some.

If we do not learn from the mistakes and actions of the past we are doomed to repeat them in the future.

Many people recognise that millions died in WWII and other conflicts before or since but nobody had pulled a war time themed gala in the past.

As evil as they were Saville and Glitter were not quite on the same level as say the Nazis.

It's all about proportionality and perspective.

 

[Alanko]

I think industrial scale 'remembrance-ing' is becoming an increasingly virulent corner of English nationalism. I've noticed in the last few years that both World Wars are now rolled together; cue imagery of 'are' (sic) brave soldiers in the trenches while Spitfires dart over head. November becomes a sort of strange War Christmas season for a certain slice of the population, too eager to yell 'where is your poppy?' at strangers.

With this in mind, I feel we have moved too far beyond somber reflection towards an ugly chest-beating fixation, mixed with a troubling eagerness to dress up in '40s costumes and act out these little fantasies. Maybe it is a coping mechanism for the UK's diminished presence on the global stage. Maybe it is regular Walter Mitty antics. Either way it makes us look a bit insular and fixated on (heavily revised and simplified) past glories.

I don't think railways should curtail their war calendar because of incidents in Ukraine; I just think they should do it generally.

 

[Western Sunset]

I'm unsure about all this. It's nothing to do with being "woke" though, as someone mentioned above.

Personally, I avoid such events as I find it all really bizarre. But they are a good income earner for heritage lines and lots of others really enjoy them.
So I'd say it's up to each railway to decide if they want to hold them or not.

 

[Skymonster]

Had this issue of wartime weekends been raised at any other time, in the wider context of this country going ‘over the top’ on wartime remembrance, I might take a slightly softer view. But of course it’s wokish as it’s only being raised right now - both @Trainfan344 and GWsR specifically mention Ukraine as being a reason to cancel war-commemorative events on preserved railways. The Second World War has nothing to do with current events, and marking what happened in the 1940s has nothing whatsoever to do with what’s happening now either, other than some over-sensitive souls seem to think doing might upset Ukrainians / Ukraine supporters.

Make no mistake, I’m not insensitive to what’s happening elsewhere in the world and the support that’s needed, but cancelling or putting off other unrelated events because of it is - wokish! Oh, and while I don’t volunteer at a preserved railway I visit them regularly, contribute through the far box and spend on other ancillaries, and I have donated directly to a number of fundraising requests. As such I reserve the right not to contribute again if a specific railway elects to jump on a bandwagon that potentially actually deprives it of revenue.

 

[John Luxton]

I'm unsure about all this. It's nothing to do with being "woke" though, as someone mentioned above.

Let me explain why I used the term it goes side by side with the other phenomena "cancel culture" perhaps the latter would have been more appropriate in this case.

In recent years we have seen people usually from the liberal left wish to tamper with the history and heritage of the UK.

People often want to change things because they perceive it may offend others or receive negative reactions in mainstream and or social media.

Organisations are now getting fearful of negative reaction and modifying their behaviour because of this and I see the actions of the G&WSR falling into this category.

Thus the unelected woke / cancel culture brigade are taking control of our lives. I find that very sinister.

 

[XAM2175]

History is important, attempts to try and rewrite, or in the case of the OPs suggestion suppress History are bad.

Organisers cancelling an event (that was only loosely associated with the history of the real event anyway) because they feel that the timing is no longer appropriate is hardly "suppression"

 

[35B]

Let me explain why I used the term it goes side by side with the other phenomena "cancel culture" perhaps the latter would have been more appropriate in this case.

In recent years we have seen people usually from the liberal left wish to tamper with the history and heritage of the UK.

People often want to change things because they perceive it may offend others or receive negative reactions in mainstream and or social media.

Organisations are now getting fearful of negative reaction and modifying their behaviour because of this and I see the actions of the G&WSR falling into this category.

Thus the unelected woke / cancel culture brigade are taking control of our lives. I find that very sinister.

Sometimes, I'd agree. But here, I'd call it basic sensitivity to others' feelings. Especially when the version of history portrayed at these events is in itself frequently far from accurate or representative - my fundamental objection to such events.

 

[43096]

Sometimes, I'd agree. But here, I'd call it basic sensitivity to others' feelings. Especially when the version of history portrayed at these events is in itself frequently far from accurate or representative - my fundamental objection to such events.

Ah, so it’s about being offended on behalf of someone else. If someone doesn’t like the event, don’t go.

I’ll go back to a point made above: why is this a problem now with the Ukraine invasion? There’s a war going on somewhere almost every year.

 

[DelW]

Had this issue of wartime weekends been raised at any other time, in the wider context of this country going ‘over the top’ on wartime remembrance, I might take a slightly softer view. But of course it’s wokish as it’s only being raised right now - both @Trainfan344 and GWsR specifically mention Ukraine as being a reason to cancel war-commemorative events on preserved railways. The Second World War has nothing to do with current events, and marking what happened in the 1940s has nothing whatsoever to do with what’s happening now either, other than some over-sensitive souls seem to think doing might upset Ukrainians / Ukraine supporters.

I don't disagree with the general points you've made, but I have to disagree with the one in bold. Following WW2, the Yalta conference divided continental Europe into spheres of influence of the victorious countries: USA, USSR, and Britain. Ukraine was included in the Eastern bloc, and became effectively a satellite state of Russia, which was the dominant state in the East.

Russia's loss of its dominance over Eastern Europe in the 1990s is what so offends Putin, who seems to be on a mission to re-establish an Iron Curtain with Russia in control of everything behind it. So current events are at least in part a consequence of Yalta and the second World War.

Back on topic, I don't think that requires cancellations of re-enactments here; though personally I think we should move on from endlessly harking back to that time, and therefore they aren't events I choose to visit.

 

[35B]

Ah, so it’s about being offended on behalf of someone else. If someone doesn’t like the event, don’t go.

I’ll go back to a point made above: why is this a problem now with the Ukraine invasion? There’s a war going on somewhere almost every year.

As discussed upthread, this war seems to generate a greater resonance than many others. Perhaps it's the very clear wrong of one country invading another, perhaps it's to do with ethnicity, perhaps news coverage - I could believe any of those.

I would go out of my way to not attend one of these events, and if a volunteer somewhere running one, would make myself scarce for it - as you'd expect given my other comments. But if that is the feeling of the organisers, then I'm not going to criticise them for making that call, and making it early. When people do see what war is really like, the Allo Allo style pale recreation of it starts to seem a little bit dubious.

 

[eldomtom2]

Those affected by sanctions against Russia for example by rising gas and fuel prices, can understand why we are taking sanctions, and it will allow them to better understand the situation Ukraine finds itself in.

Though in an ideal world, they would perhaps not take a definitive position on whether or not sanctions are a justified tool.

Actually I would have no problem with it because it would allow people to see just how easily people were taken in by these two disreputable people.

I have yet to see any evidence that the average person in the 80s would have any reason to believe that Saville and Glitter were not reputable people. They were skilled at keeping their offenses secret.

 

[John Luxton]

Though in an ideal world, they would perhaps not take a definitive position on whether or not sanctions are a justified tool.

I have yet to see any evidence that the average person in the 80s would have any reason to believe that Saville and Glitter were not reputable people. They were skilled at keeping their offenses secret.

They often say you can't judge a book by its cover - but for some reason - call it a sixth sense - I always found Saville exceedingly creepy when I saw him on TV in various things. Not being into the pop scene I couldn't pass judgement on Glitter - but Saville seemed to turn up everywhere during the late 70s and into the 80s.

Perhaps the ideal cameo for a 1980s Railway Theme Weekend could be to BTP officers arresting Saville in a 1980s themed event and frog marching him off like the WWII PCs or Home Guard march off the U boat captain!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Mar 2022 ==

Ah, so it’s about being offended on behalf of someone else. If someone doesn’t like the event, don’t go.

I’ll go back to a point made above: why is this a problem now with the Ukraine invasion? There’s a war going on somewhere almost every year.

Exactly

You see where does this cancel culture stop?

Whilst they don't have railway connections there appears to be a strong historical re-enactment hobby in the UK with various events around the country off railway premises.

- Let's ban Roman Re-enactments - the Romans kept slaves and invaded other countries including ours!
- Let's ban Norman Battle re-enactments - the Normans invaded England, were brutal and repressive to the native Celts and Saxons.
- Let's ban Civil War re-enactments - as it commemorates the murder of Britain's lawful king and celebrates the establishment of an intolerant republican regime which even banned Christmas.

So where does it all stop?

Then again we have the Murder Mystery Weekends so popular of country hotels and some heritage locations obviously taking their cue from such popular TV shows as Poiroit.

Are we going to ban these in case they offend the families of murder victims - just choosing the year 2019/20 there were 716 homicides in England and Wales that is a large number of people but I don't see support groups for murder victims' families trying to ban these.

Thus the question is where does it all stop?

 

[james_the_xv]

Railways cancelling 'wartime' events reeks of virtue signalling. No reasonable human thinks that WW2 era events are remotely insensitive, they didn't cancel them during the Afghan war, nor when the Kurds and the Turks had a little armed disagreement, not even during the ongoing schism around the Gaza Strip.

You see where does this cancel culture stop?

It's a shame society has to take everything personally and has to get offended on other's behalf. But all of this stems from schooling and giving out participation medals and the 'every child is special' mantra, this is then taken into adulthood where generations are growing up thinking they are always right and the world revolves around them. The right not to be offended is not a basic human right and should stop being treated as such.

On the other hand 1940s events are some of the biggest and most popular events at preserved railways and a key source of income.

Their funeral I suppose. If you're a heritage railway general manager willing to shoot yourself in the foot for a bit of bandwagon virtue signalling after a difficult couple of years don't moan when your railway goes bankrupt or has to sell a prize attraction.

 

[35B]

Whilst they don't have railway connections there appears to be a strong historical re-enactment hobby in the UK with various events around the country off railway premises.

- Let's ban Roman Re-enactments - the Romans kept slaves and invaded other countries including ours!
- Let's ban Norman Battle re-enactments - the Normans invaded England, were brutal and repressive to the native Celts and Saxons.
- Let's ban Civil War re-enactments - as it commemorates the murder of Britain's lawful king and celebrates the establishment of an intolerant republican regime which even banned Christmas.

You demonstrate the issue in a nutshell with the above. One of my tutors at university was involved in Napoleonic Wars re-enactment; he made professor before retiring. But what he did - as other re-enactors in other historical periods do - was in itself a form of research, and treated the history extremely seriously. The railway events don't, and that's why I have a real problem with them - as I do with

Perhaps the ideal cameo for a 1980s Railway Theme Weekend could be to BTP officers arresting Saville in a 1980s themed event and frog marching him off like the WWII PCs or Home Guard march off the U boat captain!

That's not history, but showbusiness.

 

[Graham H]

You demonstrate the issue in a nutshell with the above. One of my tutors at university was involved in Napoleonic Wars re-enactment; he made professor before retiring. But what he did - as other re-enactors in other historical periods do - was in itself a form of research, and treated the history extremely seriously. The railway events don't, and that's why I have a real problem with them - as I do with

That's not history, but showbusiness.

I think you are right. Our local railway has just announced their 1940's event is cancelled (in addition to the GWsR). I went once and they were running a class 50 that day. They do have a black 5 but insist they cant use a small bit of black vinyl to cover the BR emblem on the tender and the '4' on the cabside to at least try and make it authentic. Its bright gloss black doesnt help either. The reenactors go to extraordinary lengths to recreate history through research but as you say in the main (some notable exceptions) the railways make a lot less effort even if they do have the assets relevant to the 1940's

 

[43096]

You demonstrate the issue in a nutshell with the above. One of my tutors at university was involved in Napoleonic Wars re-enactment; he made professor before retiring. But what he did - as other re-enactors in other historical periods do - was in itself a form of research, and treated the history extremely seriously. The railway events don't, and that's why I have a real problem with them

Which is fine - you're quite at liberty not to go. But it's another thing entirely to say these events shouldn't take place.

 

[Mike Machin]

I think it would be incredibly insensitive to hold such an event when so much suffering is being endured by the poor people of Ukraine. I think it could also be quite unsettling for any children who are present.

I also feel the format of ‘War on the Line’ is now very tired and tedious, and it can only be ‘nostalgic’ for people over 85 too.

A late-fifties/early sixties event would not only be more appropriate at the moment, but also much more enjoyable! Why ‘celebrate’ one of the most awful times in human history, when we could enjoy recreating the much brighter period of ’never having it so good’?

Beat music, coffee bars, 1950s fashions, the Marilyn Munro look and teddy boys, classic cars, dansette record players, juke boxes, Happy Days, scooters, mods and rockers, classic busses, and, last but not least, authentic BR liveried locos and MK1 rolling stock!

I wasn’t born until the back end of 1958, but I can relate far more readily to this happy period, rather than dreary, dark and frightening times of WW2.